Steal Artifact

Steal Artifact was released in 1993 as part of the Unlimited Edition of Magic: The Gathering, the game's second core print run. Designed by Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast, the card was part of the original Alpha and Beta base sets before transitioning into the white-bordered Unlimited format. It was created to provide blue decks with a tactical method to gain control of opponents' powerful artifacts, reflecting the color's identity of manipulation and intellectual dominance.

The card features iconic artwork by Christopher Rush, one of the most prolific early illustrators for the game. Rush’s design captured the whimsical yet high-stakes nature of early Magic, depicting a character physically swiping a relic from a pedestal. While early Magic art was often eclectic in style, Rush's contributions helped define the visual language of the game's first decade, and this specific card remains a recognizable piece of the game's foundational mechanical identity.